Tag: Huntington Avenue

Bostonians enjoyed easy access for walking, biking, skating, playing and more on the outbound lanes of Huntington Avenue on Sunday, July 14th thanks to the Circle the City Open Streets program. Thanks to Walk Boston, I was able to participate in the event reviving my Boston By FootAvenue of the Arts walking tour. A small but curious group joined me on the 90 minute walk from the Christian Science Center to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

After the tour, I met up with my wife and kids to take in more of the activities. My son Peter was drawn to the Super Soccer Stars activities at Northeastern University and happily played soccer with the coaches and rotating cast of children for about three hours. I had little trouble convincing my daughter Kay to be my copilot on a bike ride up and down the Avenue of the Arts. We enjoyed the Boston Cyclist Union’s demonstration cycle tracks, listened to a drum circle, watched dancers, heard a loud synthpop duo, rode alongside marching bands, and got high fives from passersby.

Despite scorching hot weather, it was a fun day out for all the family and something I’d love to see more often. Before I get to the photos, I have two quick, mild criticisms. First, the map and program didn’t seem to have enough helpful detail about the types of activities going on or even a good sense of where to find some things (for example, I think my tour may have had more people if they had a better sense of what it was and where to meet, but I also had this feeling looking for other activities). Second, the stretch of Huntington from Ruggles to Brigham Circle felt like the activity tents were spaced far apart. It’s also a less shady part of the road, unfortunately. It didn’t seem too welcoming to pedestrian activity and I didn’t see many people walking here. Maybe the activities should be grouped together more closely to lend it a better street festival vibe?

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This Sunday, July 14, 2013, Circle the City and The Fenway Alliance present Open Streets on the Avenue of the Arts. From 11am – 4pm, Huntington Avenue will be closed to motor vehicles and open for fitness, yoga, bikes, dance, arts, kids activities, and walking tours AND MUCH MORE.

I’m particularly excited about this event because thanks to Walk Boston I’ve been invited to reprise my Boston By Foot walking tour of the Avenue of the Arts. Imagine a walking tour where we can step safely out into the street to take in new perspectives on the architecture and history of the institutions that line the avenue! And the best part is that the tour is free. If you are interested in learning more about the cultural institutions on Huntington Avenue, this is the day to do it.

As we walk along this cultural corridor we’ll explore the history of Huntington Avenue and learn about:

landmarks created by two of the most remarkable women in Boston’s history: Mary Baker Eddy and Isabella Stewart Gardner

not one but two acoustically perfect concert halls

not one but two historical figures named Eben

the oldest artificial ice sporting arena in the world

Boston’s lost opera house

the many innovations and contributions of the YMCA

the site of the first World Series game

expansion and development at Northeastern University, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

and much, much more

Meet at the Christian Science Center plaza on Massachusetts Avenue at 11 am for the 90 minute tour. And leave time to make a day of it because there will be plenty more activities to enjoy on our Open Streets!

Come out this Sunday October 30th at 2pm for a guided walking tour of Boston’s Avenue of the Arts lead by Boston By Foot guides (including yours truly). The tour begins in front of The Church of Christ, Scientist on Massachusetts Avenue and the cost is just $15/person. If you become a Boston By Foot member admission is reduced to just $5 and you get lots of other benefits as well.

Have you ever wondered why so many cultural institutions dedicated to fine arts, music, education, religion, and sports are clustered in one area in Boston? As we walk along this cultural corridor we’ll explore the history of Huntington Avenue and learn about:

landmarks created by two of the most remarkable women in Boston’s history: Mary Baker Eddy and Isabella Stewart Gardner

not one but two acoustically perfect concert halls

not one but two historical figures named Eben

the oldest artificial ice sporting arena in the world

Boston’s lost opera house

the many innovations and contributions of the YMCA

the site of the first World Series game

expansion and development at Northeastern University, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

and much, much more

I’m particularly proud of this tour because I originated the idea and collaborated on the research and manual writing. So please come out and join us to learn more about this fascinating Boston district.

Huntington Avenue in 1920, courtesy of Boston Public Library's photostream on Flickr